Bat Retrieval Procedures from MSU Facilities

 Student Guide

When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood -- and most do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests.

Occasionally, bats are seen around the MSU campus; therefore, it makes sense that they would also be found within the buildings. To help alleviate the fears associated with finding a bat inside of a building or Residence Hall (RH), this procedural guide was developed to assist individuals in the proper retrieval and removal of wayward bats.

1. Although most bats do not have rabies, precautions must be followed to insure the safety of all that may come or have come in contact with the bat. Please review the following procedures carefully. If you have any questions please feel free to contact your Residence Life director or manager.
2. Contact the Hall Manager or Assistant Manager or, after hours, a member of the Residence Life staff when a bat has been located in the residence hall. They, in turn, will call personnel to capture and remove the bat. Do not capture the bat yourself or have anyone who is not trained attempt to retrieve the bat.
3. Please leave the room or hallway until the bat has been removed. Close all windows and doors to contain the bat until Environmental Health and Safety Pest Management staff arrive.
4. If you are certain that you were exposed to the bat (bites, saliva into the eyes, nose or mouth) or are concerned that you might have been exposed, call the Ingham County Health Department Communicable Diseases Office (887-4308) as soon as possible. Staff will conduct a risk evaluation over the phone and determine what, if any, treatment should be followed.

By following these procedures, we can safely retrieve and remove bats from MSU facilities as well as assist individuals in seeking medical attention in case of an exposure or potential exposure to a bat.